CALA EDINBURGH HOCKEY CLUB LAUNCHES SCOTLAND'S FIRST GOALKEEPER'S SCHOOL

*Major Sponsorship Deal for Hockey Club and Launch of New Initiatives

Edinburgh-based CALA, one of the country's leading property developers, is the new title sponsor of the popular and successful Edinburgh Hockey Club, it was announced today (Thursday 2nd August).

The club also announced new Sportsmatch funding which was made possible by the new sponsorship. At the same time the club, which is based at the city's Meggetland, revealed two exciting new initiatives as a result of the new funding.

CALA Edinburgh Hockey Club will open Scotland's first Goalkeepers' School in September, which will allow club keepers to hone their skills and will also be available to keepers from other clubs/districts to allow for this specialised position to receive the best coaching available.

In addition, the club will also host a new pre-season nationwide tournament at Peffermill between Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th August.

As well as these two new initiatives, the sponsorship and Sportsmatch funding will also be used to rebrand the club and provide dedicated coaches, equipment and hire of facilities.

CALA Edinburgh Hockey Club President, Sandy Weir, said: "We are delighted to welcome CALA as title sponsor. In many respects this dynamic and inspirational developer has some of the same founding principles as ourselves – excellence, innovation and a family emphasis. It is set to be great partnership and it will help us fulfil some longstanding projects to help drive our enduringly popular sport forward."

Gerry More, CALA Homes (East) Ltd, Managing Director added: "CALA is proud to become lead sponsor of Edinburgh Hockey Club in a year which will see this successful and popular family club break new ground. As one of the UK's leading developers, CALA has designed a raft of award-winning developments across the country supporting local charities, community groups and sporting associations in areas where the company builds. Edinburgh Hockey Club is an excellent example of this. We look forward to helping the club move to an exciting new level."

Sportsmatch is an award scheme set up in 1992 that aims to support commercial sponsorship of grassroots sports projects that encourage participation at community level, especially youth groups, girls and women, and those facing barriers to participation. In Scotland, Sportsmatch is funded by the Scottish Executive and managed by Sportscotland.

Julie Bracewell OBE, Chair of Sportscotland said "CALA Edinburgh Hockey Club is one of more than 1,600 sports groups throughout Scotland to have benefited from over £4.4m of Sportsmatch investment in grass roots sport. Our thanks go to CALA Group Ltd for this sponsorship. This is a great example of how businesses working in partnership with sporting organisations and Sportsmatch can make a significant contribution to community sport, enhancing the lives of many young people in Scotland."

"The support that we have received from CALA combined with the Sportsmatch award, means that we can provide the specialist training needed and also encourage more youngsters the opportunity to try out the position of Goalkeeper, which will lead to the sustainable future of the club" said Kenny Millar, Men's 1st Team Manager.

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